Israel prepares possible ground attack

Conflict between Israel and Hamas is not benfiting either group

Nov. 19, 2012

The rising tensions between Israel and Hamas can possibly lead to a land war. A land war will only mean increases in civilian casualties. Death and destruction should be avoided at all costs and although negotiating is difficult, it is the only means to keep people safe and city infrastructures intact. / AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed

Written by

Adrian Chamberlin

Senior Staff Writer

Since an exchange of missiles and rockets between Israel and Hamas on Nov. 13, tensions have risen dramatically and war now seems inevitable in Gaza, which would be a grave mistake. Before I argue my point, some background on the situation.

Hamas is a militant fundamentalist operating in the West Bank and Gaza, and is actually an acronym for what can be translated into “Islamic Resistance Movement” in English. Many news organizations report on the conflict between Israel and Gaza in a way depicting Hamas as the aggressor who continually fires rockets into Israel, prompting a response in self-defense. In fact, this is how many under-informed college students and other Americans understand the situation.

The situation is actually much more complicated. For example, many news followers know Hamas often fires rockets into southern Israel and that Israel recently launched a missile into Gaza City and killed high-ranking Hamas leader Ahmed Jabari. What is less known is a much longer list. That list includes Israel retaliating to the deaths of three of its citizens by hitting hundreds of targets in Gaza with air strikes, injuring over 100 and killing 15. Among those killed by Israeli air strikes was Omar Mashawari, the 11-month old son of a BBC Arabic journalist.

Israel’s response also includes the mobilization of tanks and over 30,000 troops. Hamas, meanwhile, launched a rocket at Tel Aviv which was blocked by Israel’s missile defense system, and fired others at Jerusalem. Blame obviously extends to both sides, since both have killed civilians and have been aggressive. Regardless of this fact, a land incursion into Gaza will create more problems than it will solve.

2009 was the last time Israel experienced heavy fighting in Gaza that could be called war. Said fighting claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians in Gaza and destroyed expensive elements of civilian infrastructure. As bad as the fighting and destruction seems to be after days of rocket and missile fire, it would be much worse if a land war begins, especially since Israel has a poor track record with regard to civilian casualties in Gaza during fighting on the ground.The cycle is a tired one: Hamas fires a rocket into Israel claiming justification from an event such as an accidental killing of a Palestinian civilian by Israeli troops. Israel follows by retaliating in an extreme manner, leading to further escalation which culminates in a land war and leaves all sides worse off than before.

To be clear, I am not actually laying clear blame on any one side. I fault both sides for the killings and destruction. My point is to try to help everyone see as I do: to see the error of thinking more death and more destruction will solve anything. Negotiation is always difficult, especially so when it is between two sides who have such an extensive history of violence and deal breaking. Difficult as it is, the truth is calling for escalation and ground conflicts only makes it worse. Now it is just a question of how much killing will take place in the time it takes us to recognize it.